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MAJOR WILLIAM I. BROWN 


A SKETCH: 


PREPARED FOR 


W. I. BROWN POST, NO. 31 

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC, 


FISHERVILLE, N. H. 


PUBLISHED BY REQUEST, JANUARY, 1870. 



CONCORD: . : V 


PRINTED BY THE REPUBLICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION. 





[Note. The following sketch was prepared and is now printed by 
request of William I. Brown Post, No. 31, Grand Army of the 
Republic.] 




MAJOR WILLIAM I. BROWN. 


William Ide Brown, the son of John S. and Deborah 
(Ide) Brown, was born in Attleborough, Mass., August 27, 
1839. In 1843 his parents removed to Fisherville, N. H., 
which was his home from that time. His early life was as un¬ 
eventful as that of the majority of village boys. He was not a 
strong, robust child, but small in stature and of delicate health. 
He eagerly embraced all the opportunities for education that 
the village afforded, in the public and private schools. 

Wishing for a more thorough and extended course of educa¬ 
tion, in 1855 he entered the academic department of the New 
London Literary and Scientific Institution, at which place he 
spent three years in preparing for college. After much seri¬ 
ous thought and reflection on the subject, he made a public 
profession of his faith, and on June 7, 1857, was baptized, and 
joined the First Baptist Church in Fisherville, and continued 
an active member till his death. I believe, from this time, it 
was his earnest endeavor to live a Christian life;—how suc¬ 
cessful he was, I leave others to say. 

A college friend thus writes: “He was one who made many 
friends, and I don’t know that he ever lost one. His purity of 
life was unquestioned, and he came forth from the ordeal of 
city college life without even the smell of fire on his garments. 
He was throughout a consistent Christian.’’ 

His college historian says,—“ But his highest aim while in 



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college was to lead an upright Christian life. That life may 
not have conformed to the ideal that was ever before him—it 
probably did not; but it was an unselfish life—a life without 
stain. He would have every one know that he was a Chris¬ 
tian ; his daily life should attest the sincerity of his profes¬ 
sion ;—moreover, he would array himself with the Christian 
men of his college. Accordingly, on entering the University, 
he at once enrolled his name on the books of the Religious 
Society. There are those who have not yet forgotten the earnest 
simplicity of his words, when, soon after his matriculation at 
one of the meetings of the society, he spoke of his previous 
Christian life, and of his anticipations respecting the work to 
which he had consecrated himself.” 

The Colonel, under whom he served two years, testifies to 
his excellent moral character, and that “ he had most succes- 
fully resisted the temptations incident to army life.” 

Shortly after his conversion, he conceived it to be his duty 
to enter the ministry, and from that time his education was 
directed to that end. For ought that I know, he held that re¬ 
solve intact till the day of his death. His pastor thus writes 
of him, in regard to this: “Amid the trials and temptations of 
student life, beyond the smoke and carnage of the battle-field, 
he held his sacred calling steadily in view, and felt that neces¬ 
sity was laid upon him ; yea, wo was unto him if he preached 
not the gospel. He cherished no romantic ideas of the pulpit 
as a means of winning popular applause, or the pastor’s study 
as a stepping-stone to ease and literary culture; he had delib¬ 
erately chosen the ministry of reconciliation as his work for 
life, and looked forward to it with deep and settled convictions 
of duty, rather than enthusiastic anticipations of success.” 

Graduating with honor at New London, he entered Brown 
University in the fall of 1858, and for four years pursued the 
regular collegiate course. 


5 


As a scholar, though above the average, he did not aspire to 
or take a high rank. In a letter, he says,— u I do not think 
that either my health or my abilities warrant me in aiming 
for the highest honors.” Notwithstanding this, he received 
appointments both for Junior Exhibition and Commencement. 

His genial nature won for him the regard not only of his 
class, but the men of other classes. During his last year in 
college he was elected president of his class — the highest 
honor they could confer, as the appointment was for life. 

Of slight frame and impaired health, he was conscious of 
the necessity of strengthening his constitution by physical ex¬ 
ercise, and entered with zest into the college sports, spending 
what time he could spare in the gymnasium, or rowing on the 
river (he having early joined the college boat club, a connec¬ 
tion he retained throughout his college course). He little 
dreamed of the inestimable value the time thus spent would 
be to him hereafter. 

The outbreak of the war found him quietly pursuing his 
studies. Many of the collegians enlisted in the first regiments 
that volunteered, and in his letters he made frequent mention 
of the patriotic feeling which pervaded the University. April 
17, 1861, he wrote,—“ To-night, as I see the streets thick with 
uniforms, it begins to seem like war. The excitement here is 
intense. I hope New Hampshire will furnish her quota of 
troops in season.” And with pride he refers to the fact that 
Brown University, with less than half the number of students 
that were at Yale, had furnished more volunteers. 

In May, 1861, a military company was formed in college, 
called the “ University Cadets,” and he was among the first to 
place his name on the roll, and there received his first military 
instruction. 

May 20, 1861, he went to Boston to witness the departure of 
the 2d N. H. Vols. for the seat of war; and, proud of the rep- 


6 


resentatives of the Old Granite State, he wrote,— u I felt as if I 
could give them all a hearty shake of the hand and a 4 God 
bless you !’ I was most agreeably disappointed in the appear¬ 
ance and discipline of the men. As the representative of 
New Hampshire here, I have had to stand not a little of 
bluster and slurring on account of her slowness in sending out 
troops. I have not been posted at all in regard to her movements 
or her soldiers, and accordingly have had to bear it all. But 
now I can stand up for the Granite State with an intelligent 
and patriotic feeling.” 

As yet he had not felt it to be his duty to enlist. We all 
cherished the opinion that a few weeks’ campaign would make 
an end of civil strife, and his thoughts were still turned to his 
life-work. 

But the Peninsular campaign, in the early summer of 1862, 
put an end to all hopes of a speedy termination of the war, 
and the question of his duty to his country arrested his atten¬ 
tion. 

July 2, 1862,writing of relatives in the service, he says,—“I 
wish I could have the results in my character of such experi¬ 
ence. That is what will toughen, will develop, will strain 
every energy of being, will make a man more a man. There 
is something so noble in this absorbing of little selfish interests 
in one great one ! Before a man can sincerely and intelligently 
give himself a ready sacrifice to his country, his whole nature 
must pass through an ordeal that cannot but raise him in the 
scale of being. I do not mean that a patriot will long continue 
to balance his own interests and his country’s before he will 
decide for the latter; but that true patriotism is something 
more than mere impulse, mere ignorance of the cost, mere 
indifference. It is the result of a rational, settled conviction 
that the country needs great sacrifice, and is worthy of it. 
The patriotism of the country is going to have another test, by 


7 


raising three hundred thousand more men. Who won’t have 
to go, who can ? ” 

Soon after writing this he left Providence for the vacation 
preceding commencement, when he should leave college. 
Nothing remained to complete his college course but deliver¬ 
ing his graduating oration. 

He bade adieu to his classmates, little thinking that with most 
of them the separation would be final. He had made all 
preparations for completing his education at the Newton Theo¬ 
logical Institution, even to engaging his room. But at home, 
in the vacation, the need of the country for more men was 
ever in his mind, and the question, “Who can go?” was soon 
answered by him, “ I will go,”—thus giving up all his cher¬ 
ished plans for the future. 

I doubt if a man enlisted in the state to whom a soldier’s 
life was more distasteful naturally than to him. His habits, 
training, aspirations, all led him towards an entirely different 
life: but when his duty was plain to him, waiving all obstacles, 
he cheerfully accepted the new life, and henceforth devoted him¬ 
self wholly to his new profession. 

He at once began recruiting for the 9th N. H. Vols., then 
forming at Concord, and, on the organization of the regiment, 
was appointed second lieutenant in Co. K., his commission 
dating from August 10, 1862. 

The regiment left the state August 25, and, arriving at 
Washington, went into camp at Arlington Heights. Shortly 
after their arrival the battles of the second Bull Run and 
Chantilly were fought, followed by the advance of Lee into 
Maryland. The demand for troops was so urgent, that the 
regiment (which had been assigned to the 2d Div., 9th A. C.) 
was pushed on in pursuit of Lee. 

With little experience in drill and none in the hardships of 
an active campaign, destitute of tents and camp equipage, the 


8 


conduct of the regiment was worthy of all praise. Lt. Brown 
writes, September n,—“The men are in good spirits and 
eager for a fight. I used to wonder how men could get so 
anxious, but I see now. We may be called into action soon. 
If so, I hope we shall do well. I am ready and waiting to 
go where duty calls, God only knowing my fate.” 

Their expectations were soon realized, for on the 14th (only 
three weeks from home) they took their share of the honor in 
the battle of South Mountain, charging up the slope, and driv¬ 
ing the enemy before them. 

On the 18th they were again engaged, at Antietam, being 
stationed opposite the famous “ stone bridge,” which they 
helped to carry by storm, and the defence of which was as¬ 
signed them that night. The regiment lost heavily in the 
action, nearly 100 being killed and wounded. 

After the battle, the regiment enjoyed a few weeks of com¬ 
parative rest. Early in October, crossing Elk Ridge, they 
moved to Pleasant valley. Lt. Brown thus writes of the 
President’s proclamation: “ I still hold that the enforce¬ 

ment of the constitution is the direct object for which we 
contend; but I should feel that peace would be premature, if 
it should leave the slavery question as it now is. I should re¬ 
gard it as a calamity if the • armed violence that threatens the 
constitution should be removed without removing the under¬ 
lying cause. I hope we are now doing the fighting for centu¬ 
ries to come.” 

I again quote, from another of his letters, as indicative of 
his unfaltering purpose,—“No one would more gladly wel¬ 
come an unconditional surrender on the part of the Confed¬ 
eracy than I would, but better a few more lives should be sac¬ 
rificed than that the past sacrifice should be in vain. The 
length of life is not determined by our years, but by what we 
do. Death on the battle-field, with all its horrors, is prefera- 



9 


ble to slavery to unjust principles; a short life of freedom and 
honor, better than a long one of servitude and disgrace.” 

Writing after the battle of Antietam, he says,—“Many a 
time during the past year, under the influence of excitement 
and inspiriting music, I have thought I could march with forti¬ 
tude up to the cannon’s mouth: but such feelings under such 
circumstances are not to be trusted. On the battle-field there 
is no music but the roar of cannon, the hissing of shells, and the 
hum of bullets. There is nothing very inspiriting about this, 
I assure you. One must then draw upon the courage of prin¬ 
ciple ; it must be the result of careful counting of the cost and 
a determination to meet the worst, and, if it does not come, to 
count it all as so much gain, as so much more than was to be 
expected.” 

I give these extract from his letters, comrades, to show 
clearly the sentiments which inspired him amidst the dangers 
and discomforts of active service. In all his letters home he 
was careful to write nothing that would unnecessarily alarm 
his friends, ever speaking of his own adventures with extreme 
reticence. There are no tales 

“-of most disastrous chances ; 

Of moving accidents by flood and field; 

Of hair-breadth ’scapes i’ the imminent deadly breach 

and if he alluded to the hardships, it was generally in a playful 
manner. 

On the 13th of December, the regiment was engaged in the 
fearfpl slaughter at Fredericksburg, losing heavily. 

In January, 1863, Lt. Brown was taken sick with a slow 
fever, the result of exposure, and remained in the general hos¬ 
pital at Aquia Creek till his health was restored, joining the reg¬ 
iment at Newport News just before they followed Burnside to 
Kentucky. In this new field they had a delightful experience 
compared with their campaign in Virginia. The duty was 



10 


light (guarding the railroads and bridges against guerrillas), 
and, with comfortable quarters and abundant provisions, they 
soon recuperated. While there, Lt. Brown received a first 
lieutenant’s commission, dated March i, 1863, and was trans¬ 
ferred to Co. B. 

They were not destined to remain long in Kentucky, the 
Ninth Corps being ordered to report to Gen. Grant, then in¬ 
vesting Vicksburg. Leaving Kentucky, June 4, they went by 
rail to Cincinnati, and thence down the river on transports to 
their destination at Haines Bluff, on the Yazoo river, and to the 
duty assigned them of guarding the rear of Grant’s army, then 
threatened by Johnston. For two months the troops suffered 
severely, the weather being extremely hot, the water very un¬ 
wholesome, and scanty rations and long marches the order of 
the day. After the fall of Vicksburg, they joined in the pur¬ 
suit of Johnston, participating in the siege and capture of 
Jackson, Miss., and then returning to their old camp on the 
Yazoo. 

July 25, 1863, Lieut. Brown writes,—“We have had a long, 
hard march. Many died by the wayside from exhaustion. 
Rations were scarce, roast corn being our main dependence; 
water very bad and scarce.” Yet, amid all these privations, he 
bore up wonderfully. He was now receiving the benefit of 
the hours spent in the gymnasium and on the Seekonk river. 
On the 10th of August they returned to Kentucky. The Ninth 
Corps went to the aid of Burnside, then at Knoxville, Tenn., 
but the brigade to which the 9th N. H. belonged, being much 
reduced by sickness, were ordered to remain in Kentucky, the 
regiment having their head-quarters at Paris. 

November 1, 1863, Lieut. Brown was commissioned as Ad¬ 
jutant of the regiment. In February, 1864, they were ordered 
to Knoxville ; remaining there but a few days, they returned to 
Kentucky, and thence to Annapolis, Md., remaining there 


II 


until April 23, when they received marching orders, and set 
out for Washington, joining the army of the Potomac in the 
famous campaign of 1864. The regiment was not engaged 
at the Wilderness, but at Spottsylvania they suffered terribly, 
losing over 200 men. They also took part in the battles of 
North Anna and Bethesda Church. 

He writes at this time,—“ Every one is cheerful and confident. 
O how I wish the people of the North could witness the earn¬ 
estness and determination of the campaign, the endurance of 
the soldiers, marching all night and fighting all day, some¬ 
times with nothing to eat but the corn left by the mules.” 

Arriving at Petersburg, they passed their time in the trenches. 
Of the life during those months it is unnecessary for me to 
speak : you who were there know the whole story. He writes 
at this time,—“I have full as strong a desire to resume my 
studies as I had one year ago, but I can’t leave honorably while 
the campaign lasts. I will see the war through before I think 
of any other duty.” 

On the 30th of July, at the explosion of the “ Mine,” the 
regiment again distinguished itself, being among the first to 
enter the “ Crater,” and sustaining a loss of 92 men, or one 
half their number. Early in September, his health shattered 
by the exposure and hardships of life in the trenches, Adjutant 
Brown came home on sick leave. While here he was offered, 
and accepted, the position of Major in the 18th N. H., then 
organizing at Concord, the commission dating from October 
13, 1864. An officer of the 9th N. H., urging his promotion, 
thus wrote : “ Since the regiment entered the service, Adjutant 
Brown has been with it in every battle, skirmish, and march, 
and, by the fidelity with which he has performed every duty 
devolving upon him, has won the high esteem and admiration 
of every officer in the regiment. He is brave, cool, and 
judicious under fire. When it was proposed to confer the 


12 


rank of Brevet Major upon the officer who had conducted 
himself with the most conspicuous gallantry during the cam¬ 
paign, Adjutant Brown’s name was the one most prominently 
mentioned.” 

Major Brown joined his regiment in November, 1864. They 
were stationed at City Point, Va., attached to the Engineer 
Corps, and during the winter were hard at work on the fortifi¬ 
cations, building roads, &c., relieved only by an occasional 
march to the front when any movement was in progress. 

In March, 1865, the regiment was ordered to the front, and 
assigned to the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps. 

Immediately after the capture and recapture of Fort Sted- 
man, they were ordered to hold the fort and lines of works to 
the right. 

March 29 he wrote home (for the last time),—“We feel it 
is quite an honor to begin our life at the front in so famous a 
place,” it being what was fitly termed one of the hottest places 
on the line. That night, about 10 o’clock, the enemy opened 
a heavy fire on the fort, which was returned with spirit, until 
it became general for some distance along the line. The regi¬ 
ment was on the alert, expecting another charge on the works. 
While passing along the line, anxious to see how the men, for 
the first time under a severe fire, behaved, a Minie ball pierced 
his head, and he fell dead without a struggle. It was hard, 
that one who had participated with honor in many of the most 
hotly contested battles of the war should fall in a midnight 
skirmish, just as the victory which he had so long fought 
and prayed for was within our grasp : but such is the fortune 
of war. 

His life was almost the last one that the state sacrificed in 
the contest; and I believe that no braver soldier or truer patriot, 
among the many who went from the state, gave up his life in 
the cause. 


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On the 7th of April, when the whole land was rejoicing over 
the fall of Richmond and Petersburg, accompanied by a large 
circle of mourning relatives and friends, borne by the loving 
hands of classmates, he was laid in our quiet cemetery. 

“ ’Tis little ; but it looks in truth, 

As if the quiet bones were blest, 

Among familiar names to rest, 

And in the places of his youth.” 

In an address of welcome to the students of Brown Univer¬ 
sity who had served in the war, Prof. Angell thus alluded to 
his death: “And yet one more we mourn. Just as we were 
hoping that death had completed his roll of victims from our 
ranks, as the rebellion was tottering to its final downfall, the 
fatal bullet sped to its mark, and Major Brown was gone for¬ 
ever. In every battle and every skirmish he had been at his 
post, and at his post he fell, as complete victory was about to 
restore him to us and all he loved. Would you know his 
sweet and noble spirit ? Hear what he said, with tearful eye 
and swelling breast, as he was about to set out for the field 
with a new regiment to which he had been assigned: 4 1 am 
not afraid to face death—not afraid to meet it, if need be ; but 
what if my regiment should disgrace itself?’ True-hearted 
soldier and Christian ! A regiment with such officers as thou 
wast never disgraces itself.” 


































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